Weekend Argus (Saturday Edition)
Conte won’t hold Thibaut responsible for Euro exit
CHELSEA are aiming to win the FA Cup and secure a topfour finish in the Premier League rather than prioritising one over the other, manager Antonio Conte said ahead of tomorrow’s FA Cup quarter-final away to Leicester City.
The London side’s Champions League run was ended by Barcelona on Wednesday, leaving the FA Cup as the Blues’ only chance of a trophy this season.
Chelsea, who are fifth in the league with eight games remaining, are also battling to finish in the top four to secure Champions League soccer next season.
“We have to try to do both,” Conte said. “Every trophy is important for us.
“We fight until the end of every competition. Now there is the FA Cup. This is a quarter-final and if we win we play at Wembley.”
Chelsea goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois has been questioned by some fans and pundits for his role in both of Lionel Messi’s goals as Barcelona secured a 3-0 victory in their tussle at the Nou Camp to win 4-1 on aggregate and earn a quarter-final against Roma.
Conte says he has yet to decide if the Belgian keeper will keep his place in the starting line-up.
“We are talking about two good goalkeepers – Thibaut (Courtois) and Willy (Caballero). I will pick the best player because we want to go to the next round,” Conte added.
Chelsea have not lost to Leicester since December 2015, but the Italian boss is wary of the threat posed by the hosts’ prolific striker Jamie Vardy, who has scored five goals in his past seven league matches.
“We have special plans to try to defend well,” Conte said. “We know about Vardy and his characteristics.”
● Manchester United midfielder Scott McTominay has thanked Jose Mourinho for playing him in big matches this season and says the Portuguese manager’s trust has played an important part in his development.
The 21- year- old
United academy graduate has made eight Premier League appearances since breaking into the first team and earned plaudits for assured displays against Liverpool and Chelsea.
“Obviously, there are numerous different factors that have contributed in terms of my development but the main one is Jose Mourinho,” McTominay told the club’s website (www.manutd.com).
“He’s had the faith to put me in for important matches and trusted me in big games. So all credit goes to him. If it wasn’t for him, I wouldn’t have had chances to play and show people I’m hopefully capable of being a United player in the future.”
Mourinho said in January after the signing of Alexis Sanchez from Arsenal that the club would still give youngsters their fair share of opportunities.
“There’s nothing better for me than being selected in the big games. It’s good to be trusted by the manager. I hope to repay him as he’s done really well to push me forward,” McTominay added.
His performances have not gone unnoticed by Scotland boss Alex McLeish, who picked McTominay for international friendlies against Costa Rica and Hungary next week.
United take on Brighton and Hove Albion in the FA Cup quarter-finals on Saturday.
● A special atmosphere at the John Smith’s Stadium will provide extra motivation for Huddersfield Town to get a vital win against Crystal Palace, manager David Wagner said ahead of Saturday’s Premier League clash.
Huddersfield are hovering four points above 18th-placed Palace with eight league games remaining. Defeat could drop Wagner’s side into the thick of the relegation battle.
After a goalless draw with Swansea City last weekend, Wagner is confident his team can make the most of their home advantage this time around.
“We have to make the John Smith’s Stadium a special one. Now we have to create a performance and an atmosphere that we’ve never seen before,” Wagner told reporters on Friday.
“We are focused on the chance to collect three points. Tomorrow it’s Terriers against a team with individual quality.
“We have seen it is possible to beat Crystal Palace but it doesn’t matter tomorrow as it’s another game.”
Huddersfield striker Elias Kachunga, who sustained a knee ligament injury in December’s league victory at Watford, is set to return along with midfielder Philip Billing, who missed the Swansea game.
“Elias Kachunga has been back in training since the end of last week and will be in contention for the squad. Philip Billing is also in contention,” Wagner added.
The German also said that defender Terence Kongolo was expected to return from a hip injury ahead of the league trip to Newcastle United on March 31.
Meanwhile, Huddersfield have triggered a clause in goalkeeper Jonas Lossl’s loan agreement from Mainz 05 to make the Danish international a permanent player from July 1.
“We are delighted to make Jonas Lossl’s loan into a permanent, this was something we always had in our head. He’s really helped us be where we are at the minute,” Wagner said.
Lossl, 29, has played in all of Huddersfield’s 30 Premier League matches this season, keeping eight clean sheets in the process.